Montana Bonfire hosts monthly locals meet and greet

While it’s difficult to arrive at a precise number without U.S. Census data, one thing has become abundantly clear over the last year: the Flathead Valley is growing. Between the influx of housing development projects and new residents, as evidenced by the booming real estate market, there are many new faces among us. To help welcome them into the fold, Montana Bonfire in Woods Bay is hosting a monthly meet and greet for Bigfork area locals.

“People can bring their business cards and do more of a networking thing or friends and family can reconnect and socialize,” said Brittney Rutherford, who handles publicity for Montana Bonfire. “We had so many people move to the area, in the last six months even, so we thought it might be a good way, now that restrictions have been lifted, for people to get together.”

The inaugural meet and greet will take place this Saturday, Feb. 27 from 4-6 p.m. with free nonalcoholic beverages and appetizers including bacon bathed wild mushrooms, a charcuterie board and an Italian flatbread. Montana Bonfire plans to host similar gatherings on the last Saturday of each month. Rutherford said they opted for a weekend time slot to make it easier for working folks and parents to attend, while also giving those located outside of the Bigfork area ample time to travel to the Woods Bay restaurant.

She hopes that the meet and greet can help family and friends reconnect, but also serve as grounds for the forming of new relationships. She recognized that many people are working from home and don’t have access to the social opportunities that a typical office environment provides.

“People who are doing remote work, they’re not meeting their coworkers in the office. They’re not able to do after hours drinks, that kind of thing. I think we’ve lost that connection,” she explained. “I think this is an event that will allow people to have a gathering spot.”